Favourites icon

[uncle tom]

Many of my bookmarked sites have little icons against their name on the list instead of the ie logo - for example the vintage port site has a nice little bunch of grapes.

How about a nice little barrel for this site??

Tom

[Conky]

I didn't know about that site. Interesting read. We should have all those 'explanations'. We'd then have a better Forum to tack onto those basics.

Alan

[Conky]

I found this site.

This appears to explain how to do the icon thing. All we need now is a little barrel, and someone who understand the Tech-Spec!

Alan

[jdaw1]

I once made a favicon for jdawiseman.com, so call it my task.

[Conky]

Jdaw1,

Did you have any luck with this one, or was it tiresome?

Alan

[jdaw1]

Sorry, forgot. And now away from my main computer. Will have a go when I return, or maybe sooner. Nudge me on 20th August please.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Sounds like Conky should have a PC and broadband connection available to visitors to the TPF Offline #2 and then attendees will be able to do something useful with their time, such as:

(1) searching the internet for favourites icons
(2) searching the internet and choosing a graphic
(3) posting tasting notes and photographs live from the event for those of us who would like to attend, but can't make it
(4) other ideas from other people

In fact, add a webcam and microphone and we could watch in real time ... Big Brother, pah! Give me PortCam Live anyday!

Alex

[DRT]

Alex,

I love the idea of realtime TNs

This will happen, even if just from my blackberry.

I don't think conky has wireless so getting the PC to the patio might be a challenge. I might take a laptop an 3G card along to solve the problem

Derek

[jdaw1]

Four possible favicons in my order of preference: (though maybe the first two could be switched—not sure).

The icons are very bandwidth-efficient, each being about 100 bytes. They use only four colours, being (with R:G:B values):

• white = 255:255:255 = 100%:100%:100%;
• tawny = 204:153:0 = 80%:60%:0%;
• ruby = 153:0:0 = 60%:0%:0%;
• black = 0:0:0 = 0%:0%:0%.

Subject to management approval, perhaps these could become the standard TPF colours?

Admin: assuming one of the icons is liked enough (ideally the one of the first two), rename it to favicon.ico and copy it to the root (so it’ll be at www.theportforum.com/favicon.ico). That might be enough for it to work. If it isn’t, there will some switch to throw within the phpBB software.

[Conky]

Jdaw1,

Aren't they a tad complex for a tiny icon? If thats all we've got, they'll do fine, but how do you get the graphics other sites have got? I thought we were going to look for a Barrel, or similar? Maybe a distinctive TPF ?

As I said, although you asked for input, if its much easier to go with one of those four, any will do me. Your the man who volunteered to put the effort in.

Alan

[jdaw1]

a tad complex

Well, whilst the flattery of “complex† rather than “complicated† is welcome, you’re not entirely wrong. Let’s do this:

• admin, please make the official TPF favicon.
• Meanwhile, those who are inspired, which might at a later date include me, could consider improving it. If an improvement meets general agreement, the new icon can be substituted with ease.

[KillerB]

a tad complex

Well, whilst the flattery of “complex† rather than “complicated† is welcome, you’re not entirely wrong. Let’s do this:

• admin, please make the official TPF favicon.
• Meanwhile, those who are inspired, which might at a later date include me, could consider improving it. If an improvement meets general agreement, the new icon can be substituted with ease.

What a red cross on a white background, are you sure?

[jdaw1]

Icon uploading took a moment longer than planed: sorry. There now.

There isn’t a red cross: there’s a ruby “T†, a ruby “F†, and a black “Port†. As in The Port Forum.

[KillerB]

I'll get the expert onto it tonight.

[jdaw1]

Since Conky doesn’t like , how about ?

[Conky]

Better.

I dont mind any of them. I just think your doing a little too much with them. A glass on its own, maybe with red juice half filling it. But thanks for making the effort. Lets go for your glass one.

[uncle tom]

Umm..

These icons are looking a tad Chinese, and a bit fussy (on my 'puter, anyway..)

Is a nice simple barrel difficult??

Tom

[jdaw1]

These icons are looking

Not on my Mac running Firefox. Not appearing in this show, alas.

Is a nice simple barrel difficult??

Hmmm, what to say? How about: please post your artwork in this thread.

[uncle tom]

Computer graphics is not my forte, but how about a light brown horizontal ellipse with ends truncated for the barrel, with four dark brown vertical stripes for the rings? (- bunghole is optional!)

I can do this quite easily with the drawing tools in Excel, but I've absolutely no idea how to turn it into the appropriate format for an icon - or to post here!

Tom

[jdaw1]

Whilst out of network (i.e., without having read the previous post) I made which emphasises the staves rather than the hoops.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I must say, I rather like that barrel with the TPF down the side. Anyone else?

Alex

[Conky]

I think that Barrel alone looks just fine!

When you try lettering its just too small. I'm looking down my list of facvourites, as we speak, and no one has more that one letter. A bunch of grapes, a butterfly, a 'T' for Telegraph, an emblem, etc,etc.

I'll have anything, and I feel we may be messing Julian about, but for me, the Barrel on its own.

Alan

[uncle tom]

I'll second that - just the barrel - no letters

Tom

[jdaw1]

My preference amongst the barrels is with letters but I’ve also made and

Votes?

FTR, the draft favicons so far: , , , , , , , , ,

Uncle Tom: if you send me a text file, 16 by 16, with letters meaning colours that you define (e.g., R = Ruby), then I can make and post your design.

Edit: also, if wanted, I can convert any of the white backgrounds to transparent, as I have just done with the glass .

Edit edit: my vote is for then, failing that, then

[jdaw1]

Some bottles added, such that the draft favicons are now:
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My vote is for then then then
I like the letters.

[jdaw1]

To better distinguish opaque and transparent, repeated against that which, personal settings dependent, might be the darker background.

Some bottles added, such that the draft favicons are now:
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My vote is for then then then
I like the letters.

[jdaw1]

{Foiled by the dastardly page break problem.} To better distinguish opaque and transparent, repeated against that which, personal settings dependent, might be the darker background.

Some bottles added, such that the draft favicons are now:
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My vote is for then then then
I like the letters.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Following Julian's lead and assuming that we are operating a 4 choice, transferable voting system, my choices in order of preference would be:

First -
Second -
Third -
Fourth -

Alex

[DRT]

I would vote for the glass, without letters, with ruby port instead of tawny and twice the fill level of the current version.

Derek

[Ghandih]

Julian,

Part of me is thinking this is quite a bit over the top, but I feel myself drawn in, which I think we both know says more than a little about me. Therefore, here's my twopennethworth:

If I were to come across this site with no preconception, and it had a favicon, I'd expect it to speak of port. Your standard layman thinks of port as a red drink in a glass or bottle, so I'd knock out the barrel. The bottle is too small, I think, so it's the glass for me.

I don't think the letters help a whole lot, and I totally agree with both of Derek's comments:
Fill up the glass (I know you might get a better nose with a less full glass, but pixels aren't very nosesome, and I'm thirsty)
Redden the port. I guess you're trying to make it look different from red wine, which is a fair point, but port for most people is a red drink. Praps settle for something reddish brown? Are you a God in the world of facvicon colours, or is there a Higher Being that says you've either got red or tawny?

If I'm outvoted on the letters, could they be arranged so that the T and F sit underneath the glass, and the P is the glass itself? That might look quite good. Praps.


Ghhhhhhhhhandi

[Conky]

Upright Barrel, or Glass mostly filled with red port. No letters.

And I love you all, but that is my FINAL thoughts on the matter. Do as you will.

Alan

(until my next final thoughts)

[jdaw1]

A decision having the following qualities:

• The glass has as much agreement as any other;
• Tawny colour abandoned;
• The ruby works on my screen—your mileage may differ;
• “A gentleman does not stint his guests”, said Oscar at his trial—better fill level;
• Letters won’t fit underneath, and I like having letters (makes it uniquely TPF).

So the outcome of the weighted†  vote is

Complete list of draft favicons:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

†  Weights: jdaw1 = 1,000,000,000; all others = 1.

[Conky]

Fairy Snuff!

Get it done then.

And thanks.

[jdaw1]

(Aside to AHB: Single Transferable Vote has various undesirable features, particularly in small groups where members have known preferences. If you want to discuss start a new thread in Meaningless Drivel.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

I shall graciously decline the invitation. As of 1 minute ago, I am holiday so you shall not hear from me for a week (after a possible brief visit to the site tomorrow).

Alex

[DRT]

So the outcome of the weighted†  vote is

I like it, and I am happy with the weighted voting system used. It reminds me of the election of Baldrick as MP for Dunny on the Wold (Blackadder III)

Well done jdaw. Unfortunately, Lord and Lady B have gone off on their hols for a week so there is no one around to do whatever needs to be done to set this as the favicon

Derek

[Conky]

Thats the barrel I was thinking of.

But I'm very happy with the glass!

Alan

[DRT]

Uncle Tom: if you send me a text file, 16 by 16, with letters meaning colours that you define (e.g., R = Ruby), then I can make and post your design.

Alan (and other non Technical Anoraks),

I'm only guessing here but I think the earlier quote from jdaw above means that favicons are drawings rather than photographs so the amount of detail you can have is limited to what can be represented by coloured dots in a space 16 dots wide by 16 dots high. Each dot can only be 1 colour.

I may be talking rubbish.

Derek

[Conky]

Derek,

You do know the term Anorak is used to show a person knows too much about a subject? Apologies if it was sarcasm, but the idea is they are so wrapped up in their subject they have no time for anything else and walk around with greasy hair, wearing a very old anorak (buttoned up to the top) and carrying a plastic shopping bag full of essential papers!

Apologies if anyone recognises themselves!

Alan

[jdaw1]

Lord and Lady B have gone off on their hols for a week

A week and more has passed without sight nor sound of them.

I'm only guessing here but I think the earlier quote from jdaw above means that favicons are drawings rather than photographs so the amount of detail you can have is limited to what can be represented by coloured dots in a space 16 dots wide by 16 dots high. Each dot can only be 1 colour.

Nearly. Neither photographs nor favicons are “drawings† in the sense that they are not scale-independent vector graphics. But most photographs, except those from NASA of really far away things, are much larger than 16à 16 pixels. So rather than shrink a photograph into an indeterminate smudge, it is usually best to start with a blank canvas and fill in the dots. All 256 of them, if necessary. (I have added a shrunk barrel to the list, though the decision is still .)

Complete list of draft favicons:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

[KillerB]

Issa done.

Thanks jdaw for all the effort on this and thanks to Treacle for coverting it and loading. You will need to clear your cache to get this up, then recreate the favourite, but it works in both Firefox and IE.

[jdaw1]

No, it’s all wrong. The original graphic, , looks fine. But the favicon has horrible red-black dithering. Did Treacle in some way change the graphic? The dithering suggests that it has been forced to used to use a different color map, and dithered so that the original colour is approximated. Which is terrible.

[KillerB]

It needed to be converted to a .ico to be used. I can see what you mean, so I'll have a word with her to see if she can fix it. Don't expect it immediately, you may just have to suffer (in silence).

[jdaw1]

You’ve now met me. You have no excuse for believing that I can suffer in silence. Really!

[KillerB]

It has to be 16 by 16 pixels and that is what's caused the problem. The conversion routine also converted the colours and she has already de-dithered it.

[jdaw1]

is 16Ã 16 pixels, so you shouldn’t be scaling it at all. And it uses only three colours, being transparent, black,and ruby, so shouldn’t need dithering.

[Conky]

16 x 16 Pixels! My,my. that's very detailed. My mobile phone only has a 5 pixel camera. (As you all found funny on Saturday. Fancy forgetting 'Mega' in front of the IT crowd) )

[jdaw1]

Whilst aware that I have been asked to be silent, it’s still horrible.

[RonnieRoots]

It's there... I can see it, can't you?
However, it does take some time to appear sometimes. Wonder why.

[Conky]

Mine's up and running. That clearing your cache is a nuisance. The way I did it made me lose all passwords,etc, so I had to sign into all my favourites again.
Its growing on me though, Small things amuse....

700 Posts,,, and still full of Hot Air!

Alan